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The Southern Israelite A Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry — Established 1925 Vol. XLIV Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, July 18, 1969 Politics Prompt To Mark Millenib aiau\ No. 29 oV to ***%&*' • ° omall Scale I “Teen-Queen International” is Sharona March, 17, Israel”s entrant in the recent contest in Chicago. Prizes won by the happy contest ant include a trip round the world plus a lull wardrobe. LONDON (JTA)—The Jewish community in Prague has begun a small scale celebration of what was to have been a major nation al event with thousands of vis itors anticipated from abroad. The occasion is the Jewish mil- lenium— the, 1,000th anniversary of Jewish settlement in what is now Czechoslovakia. Plans for a series of elaborate cultural and historical events in which Government authorities were to have participated were canceled in view of the changed political situation in Czech oslovakia. Dr. Vilem Benba, curator of the State Jewish Museum in Prague, one of the focal points of the event, said in a foreign services radio interview that “the international situation is not exactly the most propitious for such celebrations.” Nevertheless, the ocoasion was marked locally by a concert at the Spanish Synagogue of works composed by Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein and Hans Kraser while they were inmates of Theresien- stadt concentration camp during World War II. An exhibition titled “Unknown Faces of the Jewish Past” opened and a series of lectures was scheduled on Jewish contributions to Czech oslovakian culture, literature and the arts. The Jewish millenial celebra tion in Czechoslovakia was orig inally scheduled for the summer of 1968 but Czech authorities withdrew official support in the ■wake of the June, 1967 Arab- Israeli war. The event had been re-scheduled for this summer. LONDON (JTA)—The Slova kian Minister of Interior has ac cused three international Jewish organizations of “acting against Czechoslovakia on the directives of a foreign intelligence service,” it was reported here. The accusation was made by Maj. Gen. Egyd Pepich in a speech to a plenary session of the Slovak Communist Part in Brat islava. He alleged that the Jew ish Agency, the Joint Distribution Committee and United Hias Serv ice were “gathering information about life in Czechoslovakia, or- Czechoslovakia is the all-pervad ing fact of life for Czechs became evident in the theater when the audience identified the hero, Tevye, with the Czech people and his Russian oppressors of Czarist days with the present-day Soviet occupiers, Mr. Ivens wrote. “The old theater suddenly bust into flames when two Rus sian soldiers (stage, no real) in terrupted the Jewish wedding. A chorus of whistles from the au dience answered by a few desul tory handclaps from some Russo- philes showed that these days anything reminds the Czechs of the Russian occupation,” the critic said. “Tevye’s plea that Jews and Christians should be al lowed to live amicably togther brought loud and continuous ap plause from an audience only too aware that (Gustav) Husak (Communist Party leader) is not free from anti-Semitism,” he ganizing emigration from Czech oslovakia” and generally acting , sa id. “The biggest demonstration against Czech interests througn Q f the night however was touch- their offices in Vienna. Vienna is a way station lor Jewish refugees from Poland and Czech oslovakia. The Jewish Agency assists those emigrating to Israel and Hias, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, assists migrants to other countries. JDC is a world-wide relief organiza tion. ed off by Tevye’s cry to be left alone. Tevye and his family were interpreted as Czechoslovakians and the oppressing Russians on the stage as the oppressing Rus sians now lurking out of the way in Czech villages.” Rabbi Says Forthrightness Acceptable—Even in South ALEXANDRIA. Va. (JTA) — Eleven years in a southern pul pit has left Emmet A. Frank with the conviction that a south ern congregation will support a rabbi who speaks out for what he believes is the truth—even on the explosive-issue of civil rights of Negroes. Pointing out that a spiritual leader is always subject to re straints from members of his congregation who disagree with him, Rabbi Frank told the Washington Post that “freedom of the pulpit is something you have to fight for all the time.” He recalled that he used his 1958 Yom Kippur sermon to attack Virginia’s “massive resistance” to school desegregation, enrag ing the local White Citizens Council. When he was invited to speak at the Arlington Unitarian Church, a bomb threat stopped the service. During his service as rabbi of Temple Beth El here, some three dozen members left his congregation because of his stands on public issues but the total membership increased from 100 families to more than 500 and the temple has been en larged. Rabbi Frank is leaving Tem ple Beth El to become senior rabbi of Temple De Hirsch in Seattle, one of the largest Re form synagogues in the west. He said that “the vast majority of good people” in a congregation will defend a rabbi’s right to speak fearlessly whether they agree or disagree. Unfortunate ly,” he added, “the good people often remain quiet while those who disagree with you are vocal and threatening” but he had learned not to be afraid. He said that whenever he had found himself hesitating on an issue on which he felt he should act, or when he felt “his knees tremble” he would pull from his desk a statement of principle and read it to himself to bolster his determination. The state ment reads: A rabbi will not be deterred by timidity or fear, but will try to preach unshrink ingly the words of admonition, never boggling or trembling even if great multitudes rise to ob ject.” He was one of the 'test clergymen to call for an end to the Vietnam war and unilateral withdrawal of U.S. troops. He also has spoken out on student rebellions, saying he was “total ly” opposed to suppressing the students and declaring that the problem was that “we haven’t listened to them.” LONDON (JTA)—“Fiddler on the Roof,” a musical drama based on the stories of Sholem Aleich- em which has evoked nostalgia from New York’s Broadway au diences, drew political reactions from a mixed audience of Czechs in Pilsen, according to Michael Ivens, the London Evening Stan dard’s drama critic who saw a production of “Fiddler” in the Czech town. That the Soviet occupation of CAPITAL SPOTLIGHT Jewish Neo - Isolationist? Are American liberals—Jews among them—in advertently jeopardizing Israel by joining the grow ing public crusade against United States military establishment, defense spending, and foreign com mitments? This question has emerged among Israeli soldiers, from officers of highest rank to privates in the bunkers along the Suez Canal. They want to see a strong and militant America. Their concern arises from radar blips and sonar contacts: Soviet nuclear submarines and missile-firing cruisers hovering dis tantly off the Israeli coast. Israel can cope with the Arabs. But Russian nu clear blackmail may be used one day in an ultima tum for Israeli withdrawal from all occupied terri tory. The question is: In such a contingency, will American voices now demanding curtailment of missile systems and foreign involvement then de mand a nuclear showdown? Will the present Amer ican anti-military mood tempt the Russians to flex nuclear muscles against Israel? The Kremlin can now be about 99 percent cer tain that Washington would not confront Moscow in a nuclear confrontation over Israel. Israel, un like NATO countries, has no U. S. guarantee of security protection. But one per cent of doubt re mains; even one percent may be enough to deter the Russians from risking a world nuclear holo caust. Israelis are concerned that even that very thin —but very vital shield—is being eroded by the anti-war mood in the United States. Yet this flimsy shield is all that Israel has to depend upon. It is in Israel’s vital interests to see America remain superior in ultimate weaponry and disposed to deter nuclear blackmail against free people. Soviet strategists, mindful of the Vietnam war backlash in America, are now regarded as more like ly to-r-esort to an atomic-missile blackmail than to deployment of Mid-east expeditionary force. They Kremlin to risk nuclear war. don t want to emulate the American debacle in An anti-war vogue has arrived in the U. S. Vietnam. There are also logistical, economic, prop- with Jews in the forefront. It is an understandable aganda, tactical and other reasons for not landing troop units in Egypt. About 8,000 Russian military personnel are al ready in Egypt. They perform advisory and tech nical functions in the Egyptian military establish ment. But care is being taken to avoid a role like that of the U. S. Green Berets in the early years of the Vietnam war. Russian officers do not accompany Mid-East JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Gov ernment and people of Israel are deeply disappointed over French President Georges Pompidou’s decision to maintain indefinitely former President Charles de Gaulle’s embargo on 50 Mirage jet fighter-bombers. Political sources said M. Pom pidou’s comments at his first press conference since becoming President indicated that Israel i a >r*i t -1 " J would not get the jets which it by Milton rriedman ^ long sin0 e paid for in tan, and that the new regime would continue policies laid down by Gen. de Gaulle in order to foster Franco-Arab relations. The Eng lish-language Jerusalem Post commented in an editorial that M. Pompidou’s statement was designed to curry favor with the Arabs. The political sources noted that M. Pompidou had stressed the deep traditional ties between France and the Arab states while making no reference to Israeli- France realtions. They noted also that he had spoken of a curtail ment of the Middle East arms race but did not mention the continuing massive flow of wea pons to the Arab states. The principal passage in Presi dent Pompidou’s statement was: “Is it possible to imagine a re appraisal of French policy? (It) could in any case only consist in a return to the so-called ‘selec tive’ embargo that existed before Jan. 3; and even this would nat urally hinge on local develop ments and on the attitude of the parties concerned.” Israeli com mandos on Jan. 3 raided Beirut Airport, after which Gen. de Gaulle decided to extend the 18- month-old embargo on the Mi rages to all military equipment, including spare parts. M. Pompidou indicated that the most he envisaged was a more liberal policy that would permit delivery of defense wea pons and “weak” offensive wea pons, as well as spare parts, to Israel. The Arab world rejoiced over the decision. A Beirut newspaper carried the heradline: “Long Live Pompidou.” But other papers complained that France may ship spare parts to Israel. Egyptian patrols across the Suez Canal. Moscow is pressing for unconditional withdrawal of Israeli force,,. T^e Arab-Israel fighting is escalating. Israel fears that at some point the Kremlin may decide to deliver a grim ultimatum. Then the scene would shift to Washington where liberals are assailing the U. S. role as protector—some say “policeman”—of the free world. The Israeli conviction is that their embattled na-> tion must not become another “Czechoslovakia.” Is rael can only look to Washington for a credible deterrent to any Russian nuclear blackmail. Israelis are beginning to worry also that Wash ington may grow reluctant to supply further soph isticated weapons as pressure mounts against the sale of arms to belligerents or even countries at peace. Egypt can still look to Moscow for support as the Russians plunge ahead with reckless military spending for constantly modernized implements of war. Israel can at this point turn only to the U. S. for balancing jets, missiles, and other arms essential for survival. Israelis do not want to become embroiled in domestic American affairs. They have problems enough of their own. But many listen with dismay when Americans suggest that the defeat of racism and poverty i s contingent upon curtailment of defense commitments. Meanwhile, developments of new and better arms reassures Israelis but horrifies Americans alarmed by unmet urban needs. Israeli military men accept as valid any legi timate move to end waste and incompetence in any army. Zahal, the Israeli defense establishment, prac tices such stringent weapons tests and cost ac counting that American military finance officers would be horrified if called upon to practice it. Israelis perceive something more than a simple controversy over the merits of the costly anti-bal listic missile (ABM) system or some other weapon. They fear neo-isolationism. They envisage a native rejection of defense needs that could encourage the response to the fiasco in Vietnam and chaos at home. But it has ramifications beyond the borders of the U.. S. that reach as far as the besieged kib butzim shd cease-fire outposts of Israel. A nuclear armageddon will not confine itself to cease-fire lines; Israel’s concern may prove truly universal while the American Jewish response could be dan gerously provincial. Continued on page 5